The Path to Victory Pt 1 Abraham
Key Character: Abraham, in the next 2 weeks we will also look at Moses, and King David
Main Theme: Obedience to God’s call leads to victory, and our feelings of inadequacy are proof that we must rely on Him.
The Call to Obedience
“Have you ever assembled furniture and felt like you had extra screws left over? Like maybe you missed something?… That’s how many of us feel when God calls us—we think we’re missing something or not qualified, but those feelings remind us to rely on God.”
Obedience, not personal ability, determines our effectiveness in God’s Kingdom.
When we obey, we step into God’s plan and begin to follow His path to victory.
Abraham is a foundational figure in the Bible, known for his faith and obedience to God. However, like all human beings, he had moments of moral and character failure. These failures are significant because they highlight his humanity and God’s grace in working through flawed individuals.
Abraham – Called to Trust the Unknown
Genesis 12:1–4: Abram Journeys to Egypt
1 ?Now the Lord said to Abram,
“?Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
4 ?So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
The Call to Leave Everything
• Abraham was told to leave his home and follow God to an unknown land.
• He obeyed without knowing all the details (Genesis 12:1 – “Go from your country… to the land I will show you.”).
Where Would Abraham Be If He Hadn’t Trusted?
• Still in Ur, living in comfort, but without God’s covenant promise.
• There would be no “Father of Many Nations” legacy.
Ephesians 3:20: ?Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…
Lets gain some perspective on Abraham: Abraham is recorded as a man who Lied About His Wife to Protect Himself (Twice)
Rushing God’s promises creates problems rather than solutions. Faith requires patience.
1. Lying About His Wife to Protect Himself (Twice)
Failure: Deception out of fear
• Genesis 12:10-20 – During a famine, Abraham and Sarah went to Egypt. Fearing that the Egyptians would kill him to take Sarah (who was beautiful), Abraham told Sarah to say she was his sister instead of his wife. Pharaoh took Sarah into his palace, but God intervened and sent plagues to Pharaoh’s house, revealing the truth.
• Genesis 20:1-18 – Abraham repeated the same lie with King Abimelech of Gerar. Again, God stepped in to protect Sarah.
Moral Issue:
• Abraham’s actions show a lack of trust in God’s protection and a willingness to compromise truth to save himself.
• Instead of standing in faith, he put Sarah at risk for his own safety.
Lesson:
• Even the “father of faith” struggled with fear. God’s faithfulness does not depend on our perfection but on His promises.
2. Taking Hagar to “Help” Fulfill God’s Promise
Failure: Impatience and lack of trust
• Genesis 16:1-6 – God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son, but when years passed without a child, Sarah suggested that Abraham have a child with her servant, Hagar. Abraham agreed, and Hagar conceived Ishmael.
• This led to jealousy, mistreatment, and division in his household, as Sarah grew resentful and mistreated Hagar.
Moral Issue:
• Instead of waiting on God’s timing, Abraham relied on human solutions to fulfill God’s promise.
• The consequences of this decision led to generations of conflict between Ishmael’s descendants (Arabs) and Isaac’s descendants (Israel).
Lesson:
• Rushing God’s promises creates problems rather than solutions. Faith requires patience.
3. Laughing at God’s Promise
Failure: Doubting God’s ability
• Genesis 17:17 – When God reaffirmed that Sarah would bear a son, Abraham laughed and questioned if a man 100 years old and a woman 90 years old could have a child.
• Genesis 18:12-15 – Sarah also laughed when she heard the promise.
Moral Issue:
• Even Abraham, a man of faith, struggled with doubt when God’s promise seemed impossible.
• Though God had proven Himself faithful before, Abraham’s human logic still caused him to question God’s supernatural power.
Lesson:
• Faith is believing in God’s ability, not our own limitations.
4. Failing to Lead His Family in Righteousness
Failure: Passivity in family leadership
• Genesis 21:8-14 – After Isaac was born, Sarah demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. Abraham was distressed but agreed after God told him to listen to Sarah.
• Though God protected Ishmael, Abraham’s earlier lack of leadership in trusting God’s plan led to heartbreak.
Moral Issue:
• Abraham often allowed others (Sarah, circumstances) to dictate decisions rather than seeking God’s wisdom first.
Lesson:
• God calls men to lead their families in faith, not just react to circumstances.
. Offering His Wife to Other Men (Again)
Failure: Repeating past mistakes
• Genesis 20 – After God had already rescued Sarah in Egypt, Abraham made the same mistake years later, letting King Abimelech take Sarah under the same falsehood (that she was his sister).
• Even after seeing God’s faithfulness, Abraham fell into the same fear-driven sin.
Moral Issue:
• Repeating the same sin shows how fear can override faith if we don’t fully trust in God’s protection.
Lesson:
• When God delivers us from past sins, we must learn from them and not fall back into the same patterns.
Obedience leads to blessings beyond what we can imagine.
New Testament Connection:
• Romans 4:20-22 – Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness.
• Hebrews 11:8-10 – He obeyed, looking forward to God’s promises.
• Faith isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting the One who does.
Myth of “Being Fully Ready”
Our Feelings of Inadequacy Are Actually Proof That We’re Ready
• Like assembling furniture, we feel like we don’t have everything put together.
• The Church’s Misconception: “You must have everything perfect before stepping out into what God has laid before you.”
• Truth: God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. This doesn’t mean that you are ready right now, if you are unrepentant, un-submitted, or unwilling, this is one of the purposes of the church and the pastors and elders, to “Equip” you to do the work He has prepared for you to accomplish.
Dependence on God Keeps Us on the Right Path
• Feeling incapable forces us to keep the instructions (God’s Word) in front of us.
• Keeps us dependent on the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
• Ensures we seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).
The Path to Victory – What We Must Do
1. Obey Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense
• Abraham didn’t always understand—but they obeyed.
2. Trust God’s Strength Over Our Weakness
• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
3. Seek First the Kingdom
• Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the Kingdom and all these things will be added unto you.
4. Rely on the Holy Spirit for Every Step
• The Holy Spirit is our Counselor, guiding us through the unknown.
God’s Redemption Through Abraham’s Failures
Despite Abraham’s moral and character failures, God remained faithful:
1. God reaffirmed His covenant even after Abraham’s doubts (Genesis 15, 17).
2. God protected Sarah even when Abraham failed to (Genesis 12, 20).
3. God still gave Isaac to Abraham and Sarah despite their impatience (Genesis 21).
4. God tested and refined Abraham’s faith, ultimately bringing him to full obedience (Genesis 22 – offering Isaac).
Final Lesson:
• Abraham’s life teaches us that faith is a journey, not a moment.
• God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will.
• Failures don’t define us—God’s faithfulness does.
Conclusion: Will You Answer the Call?
What if Abraham had NOT obeyed?
What if Abraham stayed in Ur?
Just like Abraham, we have a choice today: Obey or stay where we are.
Victory is not found in our qualifications but in our willingness to trust God.
Final Challenge: Where would you be today if you had fully obeyed God in the past?
Where could you be if you say YES today?
